TACLOBAN CITY — The PH Haiyan Advocacy, Inc. has moved the launch of its Adopt-a-Tree Planting Project along the Tacloban Bypass Road from August 16 to November 8, 2025, to align with the newly announced road expansion and the 12th anniversary of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’(international name: Haiyan).
The change was agreed upon following an interagency coordination meeting hosted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VIII on August 7, where officials confirmed that the bypass road will be widened from four to six lanes.
Organizers said the adjustment requires pausing pre-planting works—such as site excavation, tree guard installation, and other preparations—to ensure the trees will be integrated into the updated road design in a way that supports their long-term growth.
Far from seeing the delay as a hindrance, PH Haiyan Advocacy chairman and president Petronilo “Pete” Ilagan called it a chance to maximize the project’s impact.
“When God redirects plans, He is preparing the way for something greater. This widening project is not a setback but a setup for deeper impact,” Ilagan said.
By rescheduling to November 8, the tree-planting will now serve as both an environmental initiative and a symbolic act of resilience, reflection, and renewal for Tacloban and its people, coinciding with the Yolanda commemoration.
The group envisions transforming the bypass into a “green corridor of hope and healing,” combining infrastructure progress with environmental stewardship.
PH Haiyan Advocacy expressed its gratitude to partners and supporters, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture, City Government of Tacloban, Philippine National Police, Leyte II Electric Cooperative II, Tingog party-list, as well as sponsors, donors, and volunteers committed to the Adopt-a-Tree campaign.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
